Wichita Falls Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Get a Free Case Review

SERIOUS ATTORNEYS FOR SERIOUS INJURIES

Practice Areas

FREE CONSULTATION
five-stars-BBGgold

Chandler Ross is the best hands down! You can not go wrong with these attorneys!

— Tracy P.

Riding a motorcycle through Wichita Falls and across North Texas is a genuine freedom, but a single crash can change everything. When another driver’s negligence puts you in the hospital, you need someone in your corner who knows Texas law and fights for every dollar you deserve. At Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys, based in Denton, Texas, we represent injured riders from Wichita Falls and the surrounding region. If you or someone you love was hurt in a motorcycle crash, call us at (940) 800-2500 for a free consultation. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome in your case.

Table of Contents

Why Motorcycle Crashes in Wichita Falls Are So Dangerous

Motorcycle riders face a level of risk that car drivers simply do not. On average, one motorcyclist dies in a crash on Texas roads every day, and in 2024, 581 riders lost their lives while 2,534 were seriously injured in crashes statewide. Those numbers are hard to ignore.

The reason motorcycle crashes cause such severe injuries is straightforward. Motorcycles offer no airbags, no seatbelts, and no steel frame to absorb the force of a collision. When a rider goes down on US-287 heading into Wichita Falls, or on Loop 11 near Sikes Senter Mall, the body takes the full impact.

Intersections are especially deadly for riders. Forty percent of motorcycle fatalities happen at a roadway intersection. Think about the busy crossings along Kemp Boulevard or near Midwestern State University, where traffic moves fast and drivers are often distracted. A driver who fails to yield while turning left can send a rider to the emergency room at United Regional Health Care System in seconds.

More than half of fatal motorcycle crashes result from collisions with other vehicles, because drivers simply do not see the motorcycle or misjudge its distance and speed. This is not a coincidence. The small size of motorcycles can make them appear farther away when they are actually closer.

Common causes of motorcycle crashes in the Wichita Falls area include distracted driving, failure to yield, unsafe lane changes, and impaired driving. Drunk driving accidents are a persistent danger on North Texas roads, and riders bear the worst consequences when a driver gets behind the wheel after drinking. If you were hurt because another driver was careless, you have the right to pursue compensation under Texas law.

Texas Motorcycle Helmet Laws and How They Affect Your Injury Claim

Texas uses a partial helmet law, and understanding it matters both for your safety and for your legal rights after a crash. Texas Transportation Code Section 661.003 sets the baseline rule for helmet use, requiring a rider or passenger to wear a helmet if they are under 21 years old, regardless of riding experience, insurance coverage, or training.

Persons 21 years old or older are exempt from wearing a motorcycle helmet if they have successfully completed a motorcycle operator training course approved under Texas Transportation Code Chapter 662, or are covered by a health insurance plan providing medical benefits for injuries incurred as a result of an accident while operating or riding upon a motorcycle. The training course must be approved by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

Why does this matter for your claim? Insurance adjusters are quick to argue that a rider’s injuries would have been less severe with a helmet, even when the other driver caused the crash. In civil cases, not wearing a helmet may affect your injury claim, because insurance companies and opposing attorneys may argue that your injuries were worse because you failed to wear protective gear.

This argument connects directly to Texas’s proportionate responsibility rules. Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 33.001, a jury assigns a percentage of fault to each party. If your percentage of responsibility exceeds 50 percent, you cannot recover any damages at all. Under Texas’s comparative negligence rule, you can recover damages after an accident if you are found to be 50 percent or less at fault, but your compensation will be reduced in proportion to your share of fault.

This is exactly why having an experienced attorney review your case matters. A skilled lawyer builds evidence to show that the other driver caused the crash, keeping your fault percentage low and protecting your recovery. The attorneys at Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys understand how these arguments play out in Wichita County courts and in negotiations with insurance carriers.

What Compensation Can a Wichita Falls Motorcycle Accident Victim Recover?

Texas law allows injured motorcyclists to pursue two broad categories of damages: economic and non-economic. Economic damages cover the financial losses you can document. Non-economic damages cover the human cost of your injuries.

Economic damages in a motorcycle accident case typically include:

  • Past and future medical expenses, including emergency care, surgery, hospitalization, rehabilitation, and prescription costs
  • Lost wages from time missed at work while you recover
  • Loss of future earning capacity if your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous job
  • Property damage, including the cost to repair or replace your motorcycle

Non-economic damages include physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life. Motorcycle crashes frequently cause catastrophic injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, severe road rash, and broken bones. These injuries carry long-term costs that go far beyond the initial hospital bill.

Motorcycle accident victims often face severe financial burdens, and hospital bills, rehabilitation, lost wages, and long-term care costs can easily exceed six or seven figures. Insurance companies know this, and they often try to minimize what they pay. A lowball settlement offer in the weeks after your crash may not come close to covering your actual losses.

In cases involving gross negligence, such as a drunk driver who caused the crash, Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 41.009 allows courts to consider exemplary damages. These are intended to punish particularly reckless conduct. Discussing whether exemplary damages apply in your case is something our attorneys can walk you through during a free consultation. Call us at (940) 800-2500.

How Texas Proportionate Responsibility Law Works in Motorcycle Cases

Insurance companies routinely try to blame the motorcycle rider for a crash, even when the evidence points clearly to the other driver. Understanding how Texas fault law works gives you the power to push back.

The modified comparative fault rule in Texas is codified in Section 33.001 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, as part of the Texas Proportionate Responsibility Statute. This statute means that fault is divided among all parties, and your damages are reduced by your percentage of responsibility.

Here is a simple example. Say a driver runs a red light on Kell Freeway and hits your motorcycle. A jury finds the driver 80 percent at fault and you 20 percent at fault. If your total damages are $200,000, you recover $160,000 after the 20 percent reduction. At exactly 50 percent fault, you can still recover half your damages, but cross that line to 51 percent and Texas law completely bars your recovery.

Defense attorneys and insurance adjusters know this system well. They look for anything they can use to push your fault percentage higher, including helmet use, lane position, speed, and prior driving history. Stereotypes about motorcycle riders are common in these negotiations, and they can unfairly influence how adjusters value your claim.

Building a strong case requires gathering crash scene evidence, obtaining the police report from the Wichita Falls Police Department or Texas Department of Public Safety, securing witness statements, and working with qualified accident reconstruction professionals. Under the federal standard established in Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, 509 U.S. 579 (1993), expert witness testimony must be grounded in reliable methodology. Our team works with credible experts who can withstand that scrutiny and help establish the true cause of your crash.

If you were injured by a commercial truck driver, the analysis becomes even more layered. Federal motor carrier regulations add another dimension to fault and liability, much like the issues that arise in commercial truck accident cases involving large carriers operating through Wichita Falls on US-277 or I-44.

Why You Should Act Quickly After a Wichita Falls Motorcycle Accident

Texas law sets a strict deadline for filing a personal injury lawsuit. Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003, injured victims generally have two years from the date of the accident to file suit. Miss that deadline, and you lose your right to pursue compensation entirely, no matter how strong your case is.

Two years sounds like plenty of time, but evidence disappears fast. Surveillance footage from businesses along Southwest Parkway or near Lucy Park gets overwritten within days or weeks. Witnesses forget details. Skid marks fade. The sooner you contact an attorney, the better your chances of preserving the evidence that proves your case.

There are also steps you should take immediately after a crash. Call 911 so law enforcement responds and creates an official crash report. Seek medical attention right away, even if you feel okay. Injuries like traumatic brain injuries and internal bleeding may not produce obvious symptoms for hours or days. Delaying treatment gives insurers grounds to argue that your injuries were not caused by the crash.

Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company without speaking to an attorney first. Adjusters are trained to ask questions in ways that can be used to reduce your claim. Anything you say can be used against you in the claims process.

At Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys, we handle motorcycle accident cases on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Our team serves clients in Wichita Falls, Denton, and across North Texas. Whether your crash happened near Lake Wichita, on Seymour Highway, or anywhere in Wichita County, we are ready to help. As personal injury lawyers who understand the local courts and the tactics insurers use, we fight to get you the full value of your claim. Call us today at (940) 800-2500 to speak with our team at no cost to you.

Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys is responsible for this content. Principal office: Denton, Texas. Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome in your case.

FAQs About Wichita Falls Motorcycle Accident Lawyers

How long do I have to file a motorcycle accident lawsuit in Texas?

Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003, you generally have two years from the date of your motorcycle accident to file a personal injury lawsuit in Texas. If you miss this deadline, the court will almost certainly dismiss your case, and you will lose the right to recover any compensation. Certain exceptions can apply, such as when the injured person is a minor or when the defendant is a government entity, which may require even shorter notice deadlines. Contact Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys as soon as possible after your crash so we can protect your rights and preserve critical evidence.

Does not wearing a helmet affect my motorcycle accident claim in Texas?

It can. Texas Transportation Code Section 661.003 allows riders 21 and older to ride without a helmet if they have completed a state-approved safety course or carry qualifying health insurance. However, even if you were legally riding without a helmet, the defense may argue that your head injuries were made worse by your choice. Under Texas’s proportionate responsibility rules in Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 33.001, this argument could reduce your compensation by increasing your assigned percentage of fault. An attorney can challenge these arguments and present evidence showing the full extent of the other driver’s negligence.

What if the driver who hit me does not have insurance?

Texas law requires all drivers to carry minimum liability insurance, but not every driver complies. If the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured, you may be able to make a claim under your own uninsured or underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage, if you carry it. Texas law allows, but does not require, insurers to offer UM/UIM coverage. Reviewing your own policy immediately after a crash is important. Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys can help you identify all available sources of recovery, including other liable parties you may not have considered.

What types of injuries are most common in Wichita Falls motorcycle accidents?

Motorcycle crashes frequently cause severe and life-altering injuries because riders have no structural protection around them. Common injuries include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, road rash, internal organ damage, and severe lacerations. Traumatic brain injuries are a particular concern, even when a rider is wearing a helmet, because the forces involved in a crash can be extreme. These injuries often require long-term medical care, rehabilitation, and may permanently affect a rider’s ability to work. Texas law allows injured riders to pursue compensation for all of these losses from the at-fault party.

How does Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys charge for motorcycle accident cases?

Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys handles motorcycle accident cases on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. There are no upfront costs to get started. We offer free initial consultations so you can discuss your case, understand your rights, and make an informed decision about moving forward. To speak with our team, call us at (940) 800-2500. We serve clients in Wichita Falls, Denton, and across North Texas. Results vary depending on the specific facts and law applicable to each case.

More Resources for Wichita Falls, TX